New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-16
REGISTRAR MURPHY MISSING
HoBoKEN TREATED TO A NEW SENSATION

HOBOKEN TREATED TO A NEW SENSATION.
THE WATER COMMISSIONERS FIND UNEXPLAINED
ARRRARAGEs OF NEARLY $4,000
The rumor that Michael H. Murphy. Water Reg
lister OF HOboken. N. j. was dcfaulter and had
gone to join the American colony In Canads,
created sensation in that city yesterday Tho
runor could not be proved or dsproyei until even
ing. Rumor had it that he had been away for three
days on Thursday. buth was at his home at Ninth.
st. and Park-ave., where he lived with his
sister and invalid mother; He told his
sister that ex-Mayor O'Neill, OF Hoboken,
the present chief of the Bureau Of Engraving ct
Washington. desired tomeet him In New-YoIk. and
he left the house TO keep the appointment Neither
bis mother nor sister has seen him since, although
some of MuIphy's friends claim that be was in
Hoboken as late az 8 a. m. yesterday.
The Board of Water Commissioners, of which
Murphy is secretary, held meeting on Thursday
night, but he was not present. Commissioners
Lohman acted as temporary secretary. The meet
ing was strictly private and the Board remsined
In session until a. m. and then adjourned
to meet again at 1 p m. The exclusion OF tho
public from the meeting. the unusual length Of the
session and the air Of mystery in which the S com Hs
suspicion that was wrong Murphy Tss
anG ap al on
The Water Commissioners anil other city officials
are reticent about the case. When the Board met
was called into the room. All the mem.
bers OF the Board were present except
Commissioners Rndophy and CORPORATION
Perry was closely questioned and after he was
alowed to retire Mdrphy': bondsmen were sent for.
Brnning, aud they are on MurDhy's bond for
$4,000 1t was ascertained that the Finance
Committee were authorized to make 2 thorough
investigation Of Murphy's accounts and resolu.
requiring n rDhy to appear before the Board at s
nTrssdeIt rsaddy Of hs %ser Board
to call meeting Of the board for that evenine At
s %f cy
making urgent demands for money, due. to the
amount Of about $sooeS oo The. I last psy%snSs pas1S
Hotioss, S iu ADD and at O'clock President WIhnses and
%s hsa%fS hapS ass and n1
t a'a was ais ''sSe'' the first % time ' in twelve
meeting 'nas Assistant Perry called could
make no statement beyond the fact that Murphy
made, all the deposits, signed all the checks and
stated to the Board that he had sscertained that
there was balance I'M in the G bank Of 5000 There
thing was s. wrong T was strengthened ::by the fact
that no allusion was made in the minutes Of tho
meeting Of December 3: 1855, to aletter received
from the Hackensack Water Company demanding
Immediate payment of money in arrears.
In reference to that letter X. W. DE Forest, pres
dent of the Water Company. said YESTERDAY that it
was prompted by the continuance and increase IN
the amount of arrearages due from the city. On
December 3 the city owed the company $29 925 70
ment to the company and injured the city's credit.
The communication failing to have the desired
effect, Mr. De Forest called on President WInges,
,,,, ekof Col Au,.
ss1ss9 Abatement December se Ssres is 1885 20
Since due matured notes Ai,vi< ot
Total s4l 1888 81
Paid account February lss7------.-.---- 0,ooooo
Total w
Arrears March TO- .s9o.S3s 81
Mr. De Forest said that Mr.. Murphy's excuse for
failure to pay up was the delay in collecting water
rents and he suggested that the commissioners
should issue bonds to pay arrearages No loss
whatever will be sustained by the water company:
said Mr. De Forest IN e. conclusion Colonel e. a.
Our relations with Mr. Murphy while personally pleasant
@ % s S to o. oa n %
have called attention TO the matter several times but have
ssSse 'sSssSss s.fs
t%s tom To al. II Be- at
that he may return and clear everything up.
Murphy's bank book shows that he made de-
posit OF $3, ,4O7 90 on Thursday The deposit slip
was made out by Assistant Registrar Perry
because Murphy's hand was sore, Mr.
which is said to. contain a confession.
Murphy was agenal fellow. liberal with his money
and always ready to assist friends in distress. HIS
salary was 81, 500. He held the Gffice of Water
Registrar for fifteen years and was one OF the
most popular officials in the city. Iioboken
has not had such a sensation since the
defalcatIon Of City Collector John Mcmahon few
years ago. 1t IS alleged that the Water Commits
siOners can be held responsible If there Is any loss
as they are under $4,000 bonds each for the faith
ful performance of duty. The general impression
IS that If there is defacati0n 1t will not exceed
$4,000.
The Hoboken Board of Water COmmis-
sioners held secret meeting last light and re-
mained in session until a late hour. They refused
to give any information about the proceedings
beyond the fact that William A., Mapy
had been appointed TO examine Murphy's
books and accounts. Another notice was
send to Murphy's house, req Iirng him TO appear
and show cause why he should not he removed
from office. but be was not at home aud his
relatives knew nothing of his whereabouts.
The Commis ssioners declined to say whe her or not
they had removed hiln. President Wiaees said that
If Murphy had told him that he was short IN his
accounts he and some other friends would hayo
made the account good.